Page 77 of Horn in My Side
“Me too.”His chest rumbled as he grunted.“But you know ...I’m kind of liking being part of the fire department.”
She smiled against his chest.“Really?”
“Yeah.I miss working with a crew.And with me being the new guy, it reminds me of back when I was an apprentice.”
“Do they haze you?”
“Some ribbing here and there, nothing I can’t handle.”He smoothed a hand down her back.“And everyone had these stories about Vrig.He was a good man, and I’m sorry I didn’t reach out enough over the last couple of years.”
Though they had talked casually about his uncle in the last few weeks, Jasmine had never heard him speak about his feelings on his death.Slipping her arms around him, she gave him a squeeze.
They lay in silence for a minute or two, neither speaking or moving.“I really should get moving.”But she didn’t want to.
“I know.”He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.“Will you be okay tomorrow by yourself?It’s the shop’s busiest day.”
“I’ll be fine, Mal.Please take care of yourself.I don’t want you hurt.”
“That’s always a possibility when dealing with fire, but the training’s going to be conducted in a controlled environment with all the safety precautions in place.”
She knew that, but still ...“Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I will.”
Sliding off his lap, she straightened her skirt and pulled up her dress straps.“No, no, don’t get up.”
“I should walk you—”
“I’m ten steps out the door.I’ll be fine.”
He got up anyway and tucked his softening cock into his pants.“Like you said, it’s only ten steps away.”
Mal walked her to her door—still shirtless and terribly distracting.“Good night, Mal,” she said before stepping through her threshold.“Stay safe tomorrow.”
“Thanks.I’ll see you Sunday.”
“See you.”
Instead of closing the door, Jasmine left it open a crack, watching his large form retreat.The intensity of tonight’s events was off the charts.Would she even survive their third date without completely combusting into a pile of ashes?That orgasm broke her apart completely, and he had only used his mouth.She wasn’t a phoenix, so she wouldn’t be able to resurrect.
She leaned her head against the doorjamb and rubbed her palm on her chest.Perhaps she shouldn’t worry so much about the physical aspect of their next date.He would be leaving in a little less than four months, and she wasn’t about to think she could make him stay.Mal was the type who, when he put his mind to something and set a goal, pursued it relentlessly until he achieved it.
You were the one who suggested this whole thing.
True.In the past, she’d only had two serious relationships that eventually came to a natural end.This would be similar, only this time, she and Mal knew in advance that itwouldend.This way neither of them had to think of the future, only enjoy the present.And she told herself that would be enough.
Jasmine glanced at the clock on the wall for the hundred and twenty-fifth time, willing the hands to go faster.Then she looked at the calendar next to the computer, willing the day to change from Wednesday to Friday.Sadly, as she discovered, time travel forward was not one of her magical abilities.In fact, she almost wondered if someone had cursed her so as to actually slow down time to ensure Friday never came.
Something had definitely shifted between her and Mal.Anair of anticipation hung between them as the days drew closer to their third date.Each time they would lock eyes, a spark threatened to ignite.She couldn’t stop thinking about their interlude last Friday, partly regretting it.Now that she’d had a preview of what sex with him would be like, she couldn’t think of anything else except his mouth and his hands and of course his ridged cock, imagining how it would feel inside her.
But then there was also a light atmosphere whenever they were in the same room.Being around him was easy and free, natural even.They spent the days at Fantastic Tails going through the usual routine, though now they opened the shop together in the mornings and he always made sure she was never alone when she closed up.Aside from doing casual repairs around the shop, Mal also helped out with customers and the creatures of course.When they were putting out breakfast the other day, she noticed that he didn’t even look at her clipboards anymore, as he’d already memorized what each and every one of them needed.
Today, however, Jasmine was alone, as Mal had a lot of work for his consulting job, which he preferred to do at home.So after grabbing coffee with her at Brew-tique and walking her to the shop, he headed back.Without his presence, the shop felt vast and empty.A few times, she almost expected him to come out of the back office to tinker with the cages or come plodding down the stairs after checking on their newly hatched basilisks, but then she remembered he was back home and she was alone.
The afternoon trudged on and much to her relief closing time arrived.Once she finished her rounds of checks on everyone, she headed to her final stop.
“Hello, Clawdia,” she cooed as she approached the pen beside Mal’s desk, a bowl of food in one hand.The hatchling immediately reared up on its hind legs, her talons clicking loudly against the metal bars as she pawed at them.Visions of kibble danced in Jasmine’s head.
“Yes, I know.You’re hungry, but you need to wait.”
